Nasdaq has added two of the world’s largest issuers of social bonds to Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network, a global and publicly available platform designed to improve transparency in the market for green, social and sustainability bonds.

The bonds added by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group focused on the private sector in emerging markets and the African Development Bank include bonds intended to raise funds to manage issues in developing countries following the Covid-19 pandemic.

By adding their bonds to the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network, issuers are provided an opportunity to bring attention to their efforts and attract investors.

“Social bonds offer an avenue for underserved communities in emerging markets to access vital capital for healthcare and sustaining jobs, women and small business owners, and economic recovery,” said Tom Ceusters, IFC Director, Treasury Market Operations.

“Amid the current crisis and as investor demand for impact beyond yield rises, IFC is expanding its social bonds program. We are very proud to join Nasdaq’s Sustainable Bond Network.”

Since the launch of Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network in December last year, more than 40 issuers from 10 countries have added over 4,000 bonds to the platform.

In July, Nasdaq plans to add new functionality, including a brand new user portal to make it easier for investors to compare bonds and gain insights into the impact of their investments.

“With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing visibility for issuers looking to raise funds to mitigate the effects has become even more important, and we believe the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Network to provide valuable support here,” said Ann-Charlotte Eliasson, Head of European Debt Listings and Sustainable Bonds at Nasdaq.

“We are glad to see the interest for the platform continue to grow among both issuers and investors and look forward to keep expanding the offering with new functionality in the near future.”